Residents of Ekalaka tell is that the emergency sirens in that town were activated between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to alert the volunteer fire department of the crash.

The Carter County Sheriff's Office has also confirmed that it is responding to the crash as well.

Ekalaka residents say many neighboring ranchers reported seeing several parachutes deploy from the plane and an explosion before the plane crashed.

Ranchers have told the residents there has been a plume of smoke rising into the sky.

click to enlarge

Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander, said "We are actively working to ensure the safety of the crew members and have sent first responders to secure the scene and work closely with local authorities at the crash site. "Right now all of our thoughts and prayers are with the crews and their families."

Ellsworth AFB is the home of the 28th Bomb Wing. They maintain and fly 28 B-1 bombers and are home to two of the Air Forces's three B-1 combat squadrons. There are roughly 60 B-1's in the U.S. Air Force fleet.

The B-1 entered service in 1986 as a successor to the B-52 bomber and is designed to fly at high speeds and low levels in order to avoid radar detection. It is a variable-sweep wing strategic bomber. Only 100 were produced, with 67 still in service.

The bomber is 146 feet long and has a wingspan of 137 feet with the wings extended or 79 feet swept back.